Sheet feeding machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l A. HORMEL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1937 April 12, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1938. A. HORMEI.

SHEET FEEDINGKMACHINE' Filed May 28, 1937 ATTORNEY April 12, 1938. A. HoRMl-:L

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY lnllllll llllllllllllllllll` Patented Apr. 12, 1938 y I114,108 SHEET FEEDnvG MACHINE August Hormel, Hoboken, YN. J., assignor to National-Standard Company, a corporation of Michigan Application May 28, 1937, Serial No. 145,230

6 Claims. (Cl. 271-54) 'I'his invention relates to sheet met-al feeding mechanisms of the character shown in the patent to Wagner and Hormel, No. 1,848,856, dated March 8th, 1932, wherein the sheets are fed to impression or imprinting mechanisms which apply lacquer or varnish coatings to the sheets, the portions thereof so coated being subsequently used for the formation of cans or containers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the structure of the said Wagner andHormel patent by providing an improved means for effectively handling and feeding to the impression roller sheets, irregular or varying ln-size; b y providing new and novel means for adJustm'ent of the feeding mechanism by which the various sizes of sheets may be handled and fed, and by the provision of various other improvements hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. f

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved-sheet-feeding mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as adjusted to feed sheets of relatively short length; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the mechanism adjusted to accommodate longer sheets; Fig. 4 `is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 4 and on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of J the arrows; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 3 8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9--9 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The impression roller to which the sheets to be coated or lacquered are fed, is indicated at 2, the same being secured on shaft 3 which is journalled in the side frames 4 and 5 of the machine and carries a gear 6 (Fig. 1) which meshes with a suitable driving gear not shown, for rotating the impression roller in the manner well understood in the art. Located below the impression roller and in vertical alignment therewith is a co-operating platen lor bed roller 1 mounted on the shaft 99. The sheets to be printed are fed between the two rollers 2 and 1, from the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

The sheets to be imprinted are delivered to the feeding mechanism by any suitable conveyor mechanism, such as the belt or chain conveyor shown at 8 at the left in Figs. 2 and 4. Sheets delivered from said conveyor are received upon a supporting plate 9 and moved between the two entry feed rollers I and II while the upper twosection roller I0 is in a raised position or spaced away from the lower roller II, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the sheet enters between the two rollers I0 and II, its progress in a direction toward the impression roller is halted by means ol stops I2 so that at this point the sheet halts with its Aforward edge against these stops and pauses in that position until the stops are lowered and roller I0 is brought down 'on the upper surface of the sheet and co-operates with the roller II to force it in a direction toward the impression roller 2.

Roller I I is mounted on a shaft I3 journalled in brackets Il secured on a movable base plate I supported on the frame of the machine and adjustable thereon as will be hereinafter described. Secured at one of the ends of shaft I3 is a gear I 6 (Fig. 8) which meshes with and is driven by a gear I1 secured on a short shaft I8 rotatably mounted in a bearing I9 secured on the under side of the base plate I5. vAt one end the short shaft I8 carries a pinion 20 which is driven by a gear 2I secured on a shaft 22. Said shaft 22 is journalled in the bearings 23 and 24,110-

cated on the under side of the base platef I5. Mounted on shaft 22 is a bevel gear 2 5 which meshes with a co-operating bevel gearA 26 on a shaft 21 extending at right angles to shaft 22. Bevel gear 26 is rotatable in the lower portion of bearing I9, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 5 and it is arranged to be slid back and forth on shaft 21 in company with the rest of the mechanism carried by the base plate I5 according to the desired position of adjustment of this mechanism relative to the impression roller when larger or smaller sheets are being fed to said roller. Accordingly, shaft 21 is provided with a lengthy key-way 28 which permits the sliding movement of bevel gear 26, yet causes said gear to at all times rotate with the shaft regardless of its position thereon. h Shaft- 21 is supported at one end in the bearing 29 and at the other end in a similar bearing 30 and at the latter end it carries a bevel gear 3| meshing with a co-operatingbevel gear 32 secured on a shaft` 33 journalled in the frame members l and 5 and carrying a gear 34 meshing with and driven by the gear 6 on shaft 3.

The roller Il which co-operates with roller II in feeding the sheet toward the impression roller, consists of several sections,clearly shown in Figs.

l and 5, rotatable on shaft 40, said shaft being carried at each side of the machine in a lever 4I pivoted at 42 in bracket I4. At its opposite end, lever 4I is pivoted at 43 to the upper end of a link 44, the lower end of the link being pivotally connected at 45 to a lever 46 secured on a rocking shaft 41. The stops I2 are also secured on said shaft 41 as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 9. Shaft 41 is journalled in the bearings I4 and at one end it carries a downwardly extending arm 48 having its lower end pivotally connected at 49 to a sleeve 50 secured on one end of a rod 5I which is reciproeated longitudinally to rock shaft 40 and cause it, through its associated elements heretofore described, to move roller I downwardly to co-operate with roller II in feeding a sheet toward the impression roller. Such rocking movement of shaft 41, being clockwise`as viewed in Fig. 2. will lower the stops I2 out of the way of the sheet being fed to the right by the rollers Il) and II.

Near the impression roller 2, rod I is supn ported by an adjustable block 52 from which projects a stud shaft 53 mounted in a clevis 54 and carrying a cam roller 55. levis 54 is pivoted at 56 at the side of the machine and the roller 55 carried by it rides against a cam 51 secured on the shaft 33. Thus, as shaft 33 is rotated, the cam 51 will, at properly timed intervals, move rod 5I to the left and against the tension of a buffer spring 58 supported on rod 59 mounted in the lug 60 on a side plate |09, said rod being adjustable in the lug and having a collar 5I which, as the rod is adjustedpvaries the tension of the spring 58.

After a sheet has passed between the rollers I0 and I, it falls down on the table 60 and is moved along thereon until its end located nearest to the impression roller 2 is brought against stop members 6I secured on and projecting from a rocking shaft 62 located below the table 69. Said shaft is journalled in the side frames of the machine and carries a cam lever 63 provided with a roller 64 riding against cam 65 secured on shaft 33. The cam roller 54 is held against the face of the cam by the spring 6B.

The mechanism. for feeding the sheet to bring its edge against the stop members 6I is best shown in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive. Said mechanism includes a finger 65 which operates through the slot 66 in the base plate I5 and contacts with the adjacent edge of the sheet 1i! (Fig. 2i then lying on said plate and on the supporting table 60 and forces the sheet to the right and between a pair of feed rollers ii and i2 to a position of rest against the stop members Si. inger 55 is pivotcd at 13 to one cri-ii of a lever 1li which is loosely supported on s t it its opposite end lever 11i is provide-fl with a lateral extension which enters an arcuate groove "i5 formed in a quadrant 11 secured fast on the shaft 22 by means of the set screw ld. Movement of the lateral end portion 15 of lever 'U is resiliently resisted in one direction by means oi the compression spring 19 located in the groove 16 and movement of said portion of the lever in the opposite direction is resisted by a similar spring 80 also located in the groove 16. Finger 65 carries a cam roller 8i which travels in the groove 82 of a fixed cam B3 secured by the screws 84 to the bearing 24, as shown in Fig. 5. As shaft 22 is rotated it carries the quadrant with it, said quadrant rotating the lever 'I4 ,through the engagement thereof by the springs 19 and 8U. The contour of cam groove B2 is such as to cause finger 55 to move horizontally for a short distance to force the sheet 10 engaged by it to the right as shown in Fig. 2, until the edge o1' the sheet nearest to the impression roller is brought against the stop members 6I and then descend. Upon the sheet having its edge brought against the stop members 6I resistance is brought to bear against finger 65 and it is swung backward against the tension of spring 80 until it is moved downwardly below the edge of the sheet against which it is engaged. This is particularly advantageous in the case of sheets of irregular sizes where a sheet would be likely to become jammed between stops 6I and the finger 65 if the flnger were unable to clear the edge of the sheet because of the length of the sheet.

When the sheet reaches a position with its edge against the stops 6I, it will be noted that a portion of the sheet has been inserted between the feed rollers 1I and 12, this having occurred while the upper. roll-er 1I was in its raised position and away from the lower roller 12 as shown in Fig. 4. Said upper roller 1I consists of several sections mounted on a shaft 9| supported in arms 90 secured on a rock shaft 92 mounted in the side frames of the machine. At one end the rock shaft 92 is provided with the cam lever 93 carrying a roller 94 riding against the edge of the cam 95 secured on the shaft 33.

Lower feed roller 12, or 'that which co-operates with the feed roller 1I is a driven roller and carries a gear 96 driven from a gear 91 meshing with a gear 98 on the shaft 99 on which the platen or bed roller 1 is mounted.

Briefly, the operation of the improved feeding mechanism is as follows:

A sheet of metal to be coated or lacquered, is fed from conveyor 8 to the supporting plate 9 with its end portion disposed between the rol1ers il! and ii and its adjacent edge located against the stops This positioning of the sheet occurs while roller i9 is in its raised position and also win-ile the stops I2 are in their operative or raised position to thereby limit the movement of. the sheet toward the impression roller. Now cam 51, operative against the roller 55, causes rod 5l to be moved to the left, said rod, through its connection with rock shaft 41 by means of the arm 45, causes the shaft 48 to be rocked clockwisely as viewed in Fig. 2. This causes the stops I2 to be lowered and at the same time brings roller Ii) downwardly and into contact with' the upper face of the sheet. Rollers III and iI now force the sheet between them toward the impression roller. The sheet, after passing between rollers I 0 and il, falls down upon table 5D and on the cooperating base plate I5, and the finger 65 now moves upwardly through slot 66 and impinges against the edge of the sheet located over said slot and forces the sheet toward the right until its edge farthest from that engaged by the finger, is brought against the stop members BI which are at that time in their raised or operative position. At this time also, roller 1I is in its raised position so that the sheet is readily inserted between it and its cooperating driven feed roller 12. Now, through the action of cam 65, shaft 62 is rocked and the stop members 6I are lowered. Cam 95 causes shaft 92 to be rocked and roller 1I is lowered to co-operate with roller 12 to move the sheet and feed it between the impression roller 2 and the platen or base roller 1 to receive the coating. Rollers |00 and IUI feed the coated sheet away from the impression and platen rollers.

The mechanism heroin described is so arranged that sheets of various sizes can easily be handled by the feeding mechanism thus enabling large sheets as well as small sheets to be elciently handled. The feeding means, cornprising primarily the feed rollers l0 and and the feeding finger and associated operating mechanism for these elements, are accordingly mounted on a single support, namely, the base plate |5 which is arranged to be moved to and from the impression roller according to the size of the sheet being fed thereto. Examples of this are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 where, in Fig. 2, the rollers |0 and and finger 65 are located relatively closely to the impression roller as the sheets being fed thereto are in this particular adjustment of the mechanism, small in size. In Fig. 3 the larger sheets are being handled and accordingly, the rollers |0 and and the feeding finger 65 are spaced at a greater distance from the impression roller.

This positioning of the feeding elements relative to one another is attained by manipulation of a hand wheel |03 in Fig. 2. Said wheel is secured on shaft |04 which is rotatably mounted in the side frames of the machine, and the shaft carries pinlons |05, each of which meshes with a gear |06 that in turn meshes with a rack |01 movable in a groove |08 in each of the side frames of the machine. Each rack is attached to a side plate |09 secured at the ends of the base plate I5 by the screws ||0 (see Figs. 1 and 5). It will be obvious that when the hand wheel |03 is rotated, base plate |5 carrying rollers |0 and and nger 65 and the operating parts for these elements may be moved to any desired position to or from the impression roller according to the size of the sheet to be fed. Shaft 21 permits this adjustment and while it is being made block 52 is loosened on rod 5| so that the rod can be drawn through it to the required extent. When the proper positioning of the feeding elements with respect to the impression roller has been attained, block 52 is again secured on rod 5| by the tightening of the screw |20. (Fig. l.)

What I claim is:

1. In'a metal sheet feeding mechanism of the character described, entry feed rollers, a support upon which a sheet fed by said rollers is delivered, stop means for limiting the movement of the sheet on said support, means for moving said sheet to bring one of its edges into contact with said stop means, said sheet-moving means comprising a rotating finger for edge engagement with the sheet to move said sheet into engagement with the stop means and then descend below the sheet, and a resilient mounting for said finger to cause the finger to be forced to an inoperative position upon the sheet being moved by 'it coming into contact with the stop means.

2. In a metal sheet feeding mechanism, an impression roller to which sheets to be coated are fed, feeding means for moving the sheets toward said impression roller, said feeding means including a rotating resiliently mounted finger for engaging an edge of the sheet being fed and moving it toward the impression roller, stop means adjacent the impression roller, and meansfor mounting the finger to cause said finger to be forced backward against its resilient pressure and become disengaged from its engagement with the edge of the sheet.

3. In a metal sheet feeding mechanism of the character described, an impression roller to which sheets to be coated are fed, stop means adjacent said roller for limiting the movement of the fed sheets toward the roller, a rotating shaft, a member secured on said shaft and rotated with it, a lever loose on said shaft and having a part engaging said member, spring means for holding the lever in engagement with the member and causing said lever to be rotated with the shaft, said spring means permitting resilient movement of the lever relative to the member, a sheet-engaging finger secured lon the lever, and cam means for guiding the movement of said nger.

4. In a metal sheet feeding mechanism of the character described, an impression roller to which sheets to be coated are fed, stop means adjacent rsaid impression roller, a supporting table carry- .ing feeding means for feeding sheets toward the impression roller, said feeding means including a pair of feed rollers and means for bringing the rollers into operative or inoperative positions, said feeding means including also a rotating finger for edge engagement with a sheet after it has passed through the feed rollers to force said sheet toward the impression roller, a resilient mounting for said finger to cause the finger to be forced into an inoperative position upon the sheet being moved by it coming into contact with said stop means, and means for adjustably positioning the supporting table and the feeding means carried by it at selected distances from the impression roller.

5.' A machine of the character described l having an impression roller, sheet feeding mechanism including a pair of feed rollers Aand releasable stop means associated therewith, a feed finger located between the feed rollers and the impression roller, cam means for moving said finger to cause it to engage the edge of a sheet and feed it toward the impression roller, a resilient mounting for said finger permitting the finger to be forced backward against resilient pressure and become disengaged from its engagement with the edge of the sheet when the opposite edge of the sheet implnges against an abutment, and means for positioning the feed rollers and finger at selected distances from the impression roller.

6. In a metal sheet feeding mechanism, an impression roller to which sheets to be coated are fed, feeding means for moving the sheets toward said impression roller, said feeding means including a resiliently mounted finger for engaging an edge of the sheet being fed and moving it toward the impression roller, said feeding means including means for moving the finger horizontally for a predetermined distance and then moving it downwardly, stop means adjacent the impression roller, and means for mounting the nger to cause said finger to be forced backward against its resilient pressure and become disengaged from its engagement with the edge of the sheet.

AUGUST HORMEL. 

